Thrillist.com put together what they believe to be the most underrated cities in each state, and I'm not terribly sure I agree with what they came up with for ours. I mean, we have so many cool little hidden gems here from Manitou Springs, to Nederland, to our neighbors in LaPorte, and many more. However, the city they chose? Buena Vista. Granted, I haven't spent too much time in Buena Vista but I've driven through it a billion times and all I really remember is a Mexican Restaurant that I've always wanted to try and a prison. Here's why they chose it:
Two hours southwest of Denver hides this artists’ hamlet boasting the amenities of a mid-sized ski town without the crowds or the prices: hot springs, galleries, cute restaurants. Proximity is one of the biggest draws, as you're right next to places like Leadville and Salida with their historic mine tours and cultural events and hyper-specific historical societies based around trains or pioneering. You're central to any number of white water rafting adventures of gold panning events or to the major Colorado cities. But ultimately, no major attraction here is beckoning visitors. And that gives you the breathing room to just enjoy Buena Vista. Mountain paths link the town to remote cabin villages, fishing preserves, and everything you would want from a Colorado adventure in nature. If you have a family that wants to unplug or if you have a novel you intend to finish: this is the Colorado you want to hunker down in. -- Brock Wilbur
You can check out the rest of the states' underrated cities here.